The Detroit Pistons would still like to add a developmental big man this season or in the offseason, as they are thin at center and need additional rim protection.
The tried to add one in Bol Bol, but his trade was negated after he failed his physical, and the Pistons may have dodged a bullet there, as he came with some red flags.
There are a number of big men who might be available to take a flyer on this season in a low-level trade or try to sign in the offseason as a free agent.
The biggest name out there is obviously Deandre Ayton, who will be a restricted free agent and is a guy the Pistons will reportedly pursue in the offseason if he doesn’t re-sign in Phoenix.
The Pistons lack what is being called a “bouncy big,” a guy with hops who can catch a lob, block shots and run the floor effectively. If he could run the pick-and-roll with Cade Cunningham, even better, but the better the player, the higher the cost for the Pistons.
Here are eight guys who fall into different categories. Some are young guys who could probably be had in a low-cost trade while others will cost more in terms of dollars or trade assets.
Big man options for the Detroit Pistons in trades or free agency
High-ceiling but unproven young guys
Moses Brown, Nic Claxton and Jaxson Hayes
These three guys all fall into the “high-ceiling but unproven” category, as all have flashed tantalizing talent at times, but all have huge flaws as well.
Brown is a bouncy 7-foot-2 center who has not played much for Dallas this season after playing very well at times last season in OKC, where he averaged over a block and just under nine rebounds per game in 21.4 minutes on average.
He doesn’t get much run for Dallas, so could probably he had for a low cost and his contract is only partially guaranteed next season, so the Pistons could take a flyer without much risk.
Claxton was starting to come on for the Nets before tweaking his hamstring, scoring in double digits in 7-of-8 games before his injury.
He’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and the Nets will be up against the tax and may not be able to retain him. He’s averaging 1.2 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game this season.
Jaxson Hayes has been all over the news for the wrong reasons lately, as he just caught 12 misdemeanors for his dust-up with the LAPD last summer.
Hayes is oozing talent, but lacks basketball I.Q. and needs a place where he can get the reps he needs to properly learn how to play basketball. His value is pretty low right now and the Pistons might be able to get a high-ceiling talent for cheap if they wanted to take a chance on Hayes.
Big man options for the Detroit Pistons in trades or free agency
The change of scenery guys
Marvin Bagley III and Jalen Smith
Both of these players have underperformed after being high draft picks and have found themselves in and out of their team’s rotations.
The talent is there but neither have really been able to put it all together consistently, so may need a change of scenery and some new teammates to figure it out.
Bagley III is still just 22-years-old but has some red flags when it comes to attitude. He would be a guy to take a flyer on for the rest of the season, as the Pistons can probably get him for cheap and he’ll be a free agent when the season ends.
Bagley is a guy who is probably going to have to take a big pay cut to stay in an NBA rotation, as he didn’t play up to his last contract and will have to prove he has another level. It might be worth it for the Pistons to trade for him and then sign him to a lowball deal to see if that happens, which they tried with some success with Josh Jackson.
Jalen Smith is a guy I wrote about as an interesting possibility for Detroit, as he put together some nice games in extended run for the Suns when Deandre Ayton was out.
He’s another guy who will be a free agent, so the Pistons could just wait, but if they wanted to try him out, I’m sure he’s available and could be had for cheap before the deadline.
Neither of these guys really move the needle for me, though their talent and cost is intriguing enough to at least consider.
Big man options for the Detroit Pistons in trades or free agency
The impact free agents
Mitchell Robinson, PJ Washington and Mo Bamba
All three of these players are guys who have skills the Pistons could use and two of them will be free agents at the end of the season.
They are also guys who might not be in their team’s long-term plans and probably won’t command huge salaries.
Mitchell Robinson is one of the league-leaders in blocks this season at 1.5 per game and would give the Pistons some level of rim protection that they lack. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so they could just wait and try to sign him outright, though they definitely don’t want to overpay for a center in this tier.
PJ Washington of the Hornets is an interesting name as well. Charlotte is going to have some tough decisions to make, as they have one of the top restricted free agents on the market in Miles Bridges, another guy who might be a fit in Detroit depending on how their offseason goes.
The Hornets have Washington for another season at a great price, so the Pistons would have to give up some assets in a trade to try and acquire him. Washington is also just 23 and is shooting over 40 percent from long range this season, something the Pistons could use.
I can’t see them trading for Washington unless they also move Jerami Grant, which is looking less likely with each passing day.
Mo Bamba ticks all the boxes for what Detroit needs, as he is a bouncy big and one of the best shot blockers in the NBA, averaging 2.1 per game to go with 10.2 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Bamba has gotten better each season he’s been in the league and the Magic already have two other young bigs under long-term contracts and may not see Mo as part of their future.
He’d be an interesting mid-range target for the Detroit Pistons in free agency, though they may have to overpay to get him out of Orlando.